Shovel



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WILLIAM S. DE CAMP. F CHILIJCOTHE, OHIO.

SHOVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Application filed January 22, 1919. Serial No. 272,535.

To (/71 w/mm '1' t may concern no it known that T. VlLLIAV S. Dr, AMr, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of (hillicothe in the county of Ross and State. of Ohio. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shovels. of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in shovels. and has for its object to provide in a shovel of usual construction means for registering the strokes of the shovel, controlled by-thc lifting of the loaded shovel.

Tn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the 1mproved shovel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of a portion of the handle, showing the register;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the register or counter detached, showing the operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through that portion of the handle adjacent the blade;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the'operating plate for the register or counter;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section at the grip;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the grlp operated trigger for operating the register.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the shovel, which consists of the blade 1 and the handle 2 connected with the blade at one end having at the other the grip 3 of the usual shape, has in the solid part of the grip a chamber of cylindrical form, in which is arranged the casing 4 of a counter or register.

This counter has three number wheels and at the rear of the casing each number wheel has connected therewith a ratchet wheel 5, 6 and 7, respectively. Each ratchet wheel is engaged by a spring pawl 7 to prevent overthrow in either direction, and the ratchet wheel 5 is arranged to be operated by pressure on a trigger arranged adjacent to the blade, at that point engaged by the hand of the user when handling the shovel. Mechanism is provided for operating the ratchet wheel 5, the said mechanism being in the form of a plate 8 which is mounted to slide on the rear wall of the register casing. having a longitudinally extending slot 9 which is engaged by a headed pin 10 on the register casing, and this plate carries a pawl 11 which is pivoted to the plate intermediate its ends and which engages at one end the teeth of the wheel 5.

A coil spring 12 is connected with the other end of the pawl. the said spring being arranged between the said end and an arm 13 pivoted to the plate at the opposite end of the slot 9 from the pawl. Stop pins 14 are provided for the pawl and for the arm 13, for limiting their movement toward each other to a position where they are substantially parallel. The plate 8 has an upstanding lug 15 at that end adjacent to thewheel 5, and this lug is adapted for engagement by a rod 16 which is mounted to slide in a bore in the handle, the said rod extending from the chamber 17 in which the register casing is arranged to near the blade.

A coil spring 18 is arranged between the opposite end of the plate 8 and a pin on the register casing, the spring acting normally to press the pawl 11 toward the register 5. It will be evident that whenever the plate 8 is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3, the wheel 5 will be advanced the distance of one tooth. lVhen the plate moves in the opposite direction the pawl slips idly over the teeth and the holding pawl 7 prevents reverse movement of the wheel.

The wheel 5 once during each complete rotation moves the wheel 6 a distance of one tooth. This movement is brought about by a radial arm 19 rotating with the wheel and having its pointed end in position to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 6. The wheel 6 moves the wheel 7 a distance of one tooth once during each complete rotation of the wheel 6 by means of a similar arm 20 operating in a similar manner. Thus as the plate 8 is reciprocated, these movements will be counted and registered by the counter, the total appearing in the sight opening 21 of the casing of the counter. The rod 16 is moved longitudinally to operate the plate 8, by means of a trigger 22 which is arranged in the handle near the blade. This trigger is pivoted at 23 in a slot extending longitudinally of the handle and it is operated by means of a frusto-conical casing 24 which is mounted to rock on the handle at this paint, the casing being slotted vertically ed with the hand at the at its large end which is adjacent to the blade, to permit some movement of the casin%with respect to the handle.

he trigger 22 has a lug 25 which is in position to engage the headed end 26 of the rod 16 when the casing 24 is swung upwardly at its end to move the rod toward the counter. A coil spring 27 encircles the rod between the head and the end of the chamber adjacent to the grip, and acts normally to press the rod away from the counter casing. This casing 24 is held in place on the handle by the shank of the blade and by a ferrule 28 which is secured to the handle at the small or upper end of the casing.

In operation, every time the shovel is liftblade, as in lifting the load, the trigger will be lifted and the rod 16 will be moved longitudinally toward the register or. counter. The plate 8 will be moved in a direction to actuate the wheel 5 of the units register. For each complete rotation of the units register the tens register will be operated, and for each complete rotation of the tens register the hundreds register will be operated. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the wheels 5, 6 and 7 has ten teeth, and the plate 8 will movethe wheel 5 one tooth every time the trigger grip 24 operates the trigger. For each ten movements of the wheel 5 the wheel 6 will be moved a distance of one tooth and for each ten movements of the wheel 6 the wheel 7 will be moved a distance of one tooth.

The provision of the trigger casing 24 provides a handle or grip for convenient manipulation time provides a casing to prevent blocking sleeve, a spring urging of the shovel and at the same 'of the trigger 22 to hinder the operation of the register.

I claim: l dll: In ashovel having a scoop and a hanger pivotally associated with the handle and disposed longitudinally thereof, an operating rod operatively connected with the counter for actuating the same and disposed longitudinally within said handle, a spring holding said rod at one limit of its movement, and a lug on said trigger having an inclined surface engaging the free end of said rod. 2. In a shovel including a scoop and a handle, a sleeve surrounding and pivotally connected with said handle whereby to have lateral rocking movement with respect thereto, a counter. carried by said handle adjacent the free end thereof, a rodoperatively connected with said counter for actuating the same and disposed longitudinally within said handle, said handle within said a counter carried by the handle, a tr' sleeve being provided with a slot and the free end of said rod extending into said slot, a trigger disposed within said sleeve and slot and pivoted upon the pivot of said the free end of said rod toward the scoop portion of the shovel, and a lug on saidtrigger having an inclined face engageable with the free end of said rod whereby upon rocln'ng movement of said sleeve and consequently said trigger upon lifting the shovel, said rod will be moved longitudinally for actuating said counter.

WILLIAM s. DE CAMP. 

